Bundling device.



G. S. RHBEM.

BUNDLING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 8, 1913.

1,097,364. Pa en ed Ma 19, 1914 rnvrrnn srarns PATENT OFFICE.

enoaen s. RHEEM, or HELENA, MONTANA.

BUNDLING DEVICE.

noensea.

T0 at whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE S. Ri-IEEM, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Helena, in the county of Lewis and Clark and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBundling Devices, of which the following in a specification.

This invention relates to bundling machines or devices and particularly to a bundling machine adapted for use in forming bundles of vegetation, such as grass, grain or the like, and it is particularly designed for use in the production of exhibits wherein the products of a community are bundled according to the species, in an ornamental fashion so that when the bundles are assembled, the display will be artistic and effective.

An object of the present invention is to produce novel means for clamping the stalks of vegetation near the butt ends thereof and also at the neck portions thereof just back of the heads, so that the stalks may be tied together in bundles by ribbon or ornamental fastenings, or in any other appropriate way.

A further object of this invention is to produce a bundling device in which the clamping members may be readily adjusted with relation to each other to accommodate stalks of vegetation of different lengths, means being furthermore provided for affording adjustment vertically in order that the neck portions of the vegetation may be held in horizontal alinement to the ends thereof while binding materials or bands are being applied to the bundle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide seats for the material of which the bundle is to be formed and novel retaining and compressing members associated therewith and means for readily securing and releasing the retaining and compressing members.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the bundling device shown supported on a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 8, 1913. Serial No. 799,964.

Patented May 19, 1914.

suitable table; Fig. 2 illustrates an end view of that portion of the device intended to clamp the butts of the stalks or plants; Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 illustrates a view in elevation, partly in section of the clamping mechanism for engaging the necks of the vegetatlon or stalks; Fig. 5 illustrates a view in elevation of a standard or support for the last mentioned clamping member, showing means for affording an adjustment thereof; and Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. I.

In these drawings 7 denotes a table which may be of any appropriate type, the same constituting a support for the bases 8 and 9, which are adjustable toward and away from each other to accommodate the vegetation, plants or stalks of difierent lengths. The base 8 has a cradle 10 mounted on it, the same beingapproximately circular and having a portion at the top removed to form an opening for the insertion of the material to be bound or bundled. The upper surface of the cradle 10 has a hinged member 11 secured to it and a curved plate or strap 12 is pivotally connected to the hinge and bridges the space between the ends of the cradle. The end of the plate or strap 12 remote from the hinge has a lug 13 engaged by a latch 14 which latch is mounted on the end of the cradle remote from the hinge. As the latch may be of any appropriate construction and as the details thereof are not material, a further illustration or description of the same is believed unnecessary. The inner surface of the cradle is beveled as shown in Fig. 8, as it will be found that a bundle will taper from the outer end toward the head, due to the fact that the stalks are thicker at their outer ends and thinner at the necks so that the bevel of the said cradle conforms to the taper of the bundle, or approximately so. The base 9 has two slotted standards 15 through which bolts 16 project, said bolts having thumb screws 17 for fastening the bolts at different positions of adjustment. The bolts 16 extend or project from a cradle 18, which is smaller than the cradle 10, and the ends thereof support blocks 19 which are secured to the cradle by the dowel pins 20 and the bolts 21, the said bolts 21 passing through the blocks and being engaged by wing nuts 22 by which the blocks may be bound or forced against the ends of the cradle, or permitted to be raised therefrom slightly to accommodate bundles of different sizes. The inner walls of the cradle 18 are likewise beveled to correspond approximately to the taper of the bundle which it is to receive.

In operation, the material of which the bundle is to be formed is caused to rest in the cradles and the compressing or binding plates are then forced into position to close or bridge the opening between the ends of the cradles, thus compressing the material according to the density of the bundle to be formed. The bands or members for binding the bundle are then applied by passing the same around the bundle at such intermediate points throughout its length as practice Will dictate and Where it is desirable to ornament the bundle, the bindings or bands may take the form of ribbon or decorative fabric, although this last mentioned feature is immaterial, so far as the operation of the binding device is concerned as the bands or ties may be of any appropriate character.

I claim In a device for binding materials in bundles, bases, cradles on the said bases, a binding and compressing member associated with one of the cradles, means for holding the said compressing member in closed position, blocks adjustably connected to the ends of the other cradle, means for holding the last mentioned cradle in different positions of adjustment vertically, and compression members associated with the blocks and means for retaining the compression members in closed position.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

GEORGE S. RHEEM. Witnesses:

VUE L. MCCARTHY, HOMER G. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

